Forensic Scientist

Forensic Scientist

LIsa Black

Cape Coral, FL

Female, 49

I spent the five happiest years of my life in a morgue. As a forensic scientist in the Cleveland coroner’s office I analyzed gunshot residue on hands and clothing, hairs, fibers, paint, glass, DNA, blood and many other forms of trace evidence, as well as crime scenes. Now I'm a certified latent print examiner and CSI for a police department in Florida. I also write a series of forensic suspense novels, turning the day job into fiction. My books have been translated into six languages.

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Last Answer on July 21, 2022

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Would it best to get a bachelors degree in Forensic behavioral sciences, or would an associates degree be ok? I dint mind spending the time and money on the bachelors but if an associates is the same then I'll go that route. Thank you for any info.

Asked by DarkBigFootfromTealJungle over 4 years ago

If you’re looking at behavioral psychology, I’m afraid I have no idea what job requirements would be. Try to find the websites of professional organizations, like American Academy of Forensic Sciences, and check their job vacancy postings for job requirements. I’m sure there must be national organizations of behavioral psychology as well, and they should be able to guide you. Best of luck to you.

How to become a blood spatter analyts?

Asked by Surya. E about 5 years ago

You'd have to be a general CSI and then take extra continuing education in bloodstain pattern analysis specifically. Also, I can tell you from personal experience, if you really want to do a lot of it with great expertise, you need to live in an area where there will be lots of bloodspatter cases to practice and work on. Best of luck!

Have you ever seen something so graphic you had to go throw up?

Asked by Kamryn about 5 years ago

Nope. I’m lucky to have a pretty cast iron stomach.

Is every death counted as COVID if someone has it even if it is murder, car wreck, heart failure, suicide, or anything else?

Asked by Tim about 5 years ago

I”ve heard that rumor too, but I don’t see how it could possibly be true. Cause of death is decided by a myriad of different doctors. Generally it is signed by the doctor who was caring for the patient regarding the condition that led (or at least appeared to lead) to the death. If that is not clear, if the person wasn’t consistently under a doctor’s care or if, say, a cancer patient suffers a traumatic car accident, then cause could be determined by a different doctor. That could be a pathologist at the Medical Examiner’s Office, a cancer patient’s oncologist, an ill person’s regularly-visited doctor, the doctor on staff at a nursing home, a hospital doctor who’s been caring for the patient during a temporary stay, or even an emergency room doctor. In the past few months I’ve been called to a number of deaths and none of them were ruled as COVID cases.

Wait is your husband the country singer?!

Asked by Tim about 5 years ago

No. That’s the actress Lisa Hartman Black.

Is this good information for detectives

https://youtu.be/PZxuPthKTcg

Asked by Brett over 4 years ago

I can't click on links I don't recognize. What's it about?

Can someone create false positive molestation forensic testing by wiping a week old rag with dried semen onto their child

Asked by Queen B almost 4 years ago

I suppose anything’s possible, but it depends on how well a dried stain is going to transfer to anything. usually a dense, dried liquid simply flakes off a surface. Someone could try wetting the rag but I honestly don’t know how well that would work or if at all. Also, whoever is collecting any evidence off that child would have to swab that exact spot. So I can’t say it’s impossible but I would guess it’s unlikely to work. Hope that helps!